No points for Zellers

No points for Zellers
Just back from another special shopping experience at the Zellers store in Hawkesbury.This time I got the double treatment -- the item did not scan and the surly cashier essentially told me that it was my fault.The funny thing is that for a store that offers shoddy service, it is constantly seeking shopper input."Tell us how we did today," reads the message at the bottom of the sales slip, which will become a souvenir because this has been -- as God is my witness -- the last time I have shopped at this sorry outlet."How are we doing?" is the query on the customer form. I took two because I had plenty of time on my hands as I awaited for the elusive price check to come.My fault: I am of those few remaining consumers who believe in shopping locally. So, despite past horror stories, I continue to shop at the local Zellers, rather than shopping online or travelling to the Wal-Mart in Lachute.Tuesday, after work, in search of a Bar Mitzvah card in Hawkesbury, the most Gentilest of communities in Ontario! Oy! But I am an optimist.Of course there are no Jewish-specific cards but I come across a generic celebratory card that might suffice, or could be used for another occasion, like when I get some human-like feedback from Zellers.I also picked up a bag of snacks, which I could have devoured while waiting at the cash.During my 15-minute wait at the caisse, the person who apparently was employed by Zellers to take my money never actually looked at me. I checked my nose for dripping snot, my ears for oozing blood, my eyes for puss...OK I may be hideous, but I am not an animal.At 5:30 p.m., the person who ignored me made that familiar gesture that stops the hearts of loyal Zellers customers across Canada. Yes, she reached for the phone and said something unintelligble. No, God! Not the price check!So, stupid me, I waited while the "cashier" continued to ignore me and chatted with another "cashier" who did not seem pleased because the three other customers in the store had been referred to her cash because I was holding up the other cash that was open.At 5:40 p.m., I get the attention of my "cashier" and beg her to just forget about the card, which was clearly marked at $1.20 but would not scan because Mars was not properly aligned with Venus, or something like that.I think she said something to the effect: But he has gone for a price check!Me: That was 10 minutes ago.(I feared I was going to be late for the Bar Mitzvah, which was on Saturday.)Could The One Who Ignores Customers please cancel the price check?"Cancellez!" she bellowed so the whole store could hear her.I said thanks. She shoved the sales slip into the plastic Zellers bag. I felt like apologizing for ruining her otherwise perfect life.I am not going to fill out the customer forms because my input may actually help Zellers.The best thing about this experience is that now I can honestly say that I tried to support local businesses, and they obviously don't want my business.Wall-Mart, here I come!!
The best thing about this experience is that now I can honestly say that I tried to support local businesses, and they obviously don't want my business.

Wall-Mart, here I come!!

He shoots!

Outdoor rinks, such as this one in Grenville, Québec, just across the bridge from Hawkesbury, Ontario, are as Canadian as doughnuts, maple syrup, and road salt, eh?
It is the Stanley Cup final, he is in all alone on a breakaway, he shoots...he did not score. The goalie made a scintillating stop, thrilling the few spectators, including the skateless coaches-referees, who clunked around the ice offering encouragement and advice to the young boys and girls.
Evidently, outdoor skating is so popular that some city folk drive to Grenville so they can lace em up and go for a spin.

Rural delivery

A fact of life: No matter how hard you try to keep the snow cleared away from the mailbox, there is always another snowplow just around the corner.

Blown away

A bird feeder is always a busy spot, especially during a snowstorm when fine-feathered friends will not let a little blizzard deter them from an in-flight snack.

Another fire

Everyone shared the sadness of the owners of this house as they watched their home go up in smoke. It was strangely quiet as the large house near Hawkesbury went up in a spectacular blaze in the middle of the day. The owners rarely spoke except to discuss among themselves whether it would be better for some of their home to be salvaged or to have it destroyed so they could make a fresh start.

Fire aftermath

During a garage fire near St-Eugène, a small community east of the Québec-Ontario border, the nearby house received minor damage. The heat melted the vinyl siding, leaving what some thought were drooping bandages on the home.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt during the blaze which destroyed two farm tractors.

Blessed are the snowmobiles

The Roman Catholic Church has been known to allow the benediction of almost anything. But I was bemused to hear of a blessing of snowmobiles in Ste-Anne-de-Prescott, a village on the Québec-Ontario border, where the curé (pastor) said a few words over helmets, placed in front of the altar, and snow machines of all sorts were parked around the statue of Ste-Anne herself.

Praise the Lord and pray for snow!

Winter wonderland

Bell Falls north of Hawkesbury, Ontario is a winter wonderland.

New heights

This photo of Ronna nearing the roof of her house gives a measure of how much snow we have had this winter. The levels are expected to drop this weekend when the forecast calls for absolutely balmy temperatures.

Solstice Sparks

Ronna and I celebrated the Solstice with a small cookout in the back yard. Boy, did we singe those wieners!

Hey, we do things big here in Glengarrryy!

Actually, this was a bash thrown by some friends who had some barn demolition material hanging around.

Good times!

Winter vision

Just another blizzard...thank the Lord for global warming or it would be a lot worse.

Frosty fog

So, between a blizzard and a bout of -15 with the wind chill, we get these inviting vistas.

Another day in paradise

Liftoff

On a late fall day, a few hours before a snowstorm struck, this heron suddenly lifted from a ditch and soared, in its own special way, across the road, above the traffic and into the skies. OK, it was not as graceful as a Canada goose, but this bird has obvious limitations.

Lasting Salute

Everyone in the small community of Harrington, Québec turned out for a dedication of a plaque in the memory of two World War II veterans who never made it back home from the battlefields of Europe. It is a simple and fitting tribute.

During the ceremony, one of the veteran's brothers remembered the horrible pain the whole family felt when that sickening news first arrived. Harry was dead.

Many of those in the crowd were childhood friends of the two boys who were killed in Italy and Holland.

Fiddles, bagpipes and the occasional sniffle filled the crisp air.